Grizzlies forward Barnes fined for Fisher remarks

NEW YORK: Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes has been fined $35,000 for remarks about New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher deemed detrimental to the best interests of the NBA, the league said on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

Barnes had already served a two-game ban for attacking and threatening Fisher after an altercation between the two at the California home of Barnes’ ex-wife, Gloria Govan.

Although Barnes was on his best behavior when the Grizzlies hosted the Knicks on Saturday, he wasn’t shy in the days before the game about voicing his dislike of Fisher.

In the comments that prompted action from the league, Barnes defended his decision to resort to physical violence against Fisher.

“Violence is never the answer, but sometimes it is,” Barnes said when asked about the October incident. “And unfortunately, it happened. I don’t regret it.”

“Matt Barnes’ comments condoning violence do not reflect who we are as a league or the character of our players,” Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations said Sunday in a statement. “His words are unacceptable and entirely inconsistent with the core principles of this game and the NBA.”